Good Morning RallyPoint on this November 5, 2020. Here is your history for the Vietnam War on this day 5 November. Also today, I have the honor to present to the RP readers, TWO Medal of Honor awardees that earned their awards on this day in Vietnam. Welcome home all Veterans and those that gave their all, may you rest in peace...!

Today, 5 November in Vietnam war History


5 November 1965 Ho Thi Que a 38 year old ARVN Ranger known as "The Tiger Lady of South Vietnam", was killed during an argument with her husband, Major Nguyen Van Dan

5–8 November 1965, Operation Hump was a search and destroy operation by the 173rd Airborne Brigade, in an area 17.5 miles (28.2 km) north of Biên Hòa. 1 RAR deployed south of the Đồng Nai River while the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, conducted a helicopter assault on an LZ northwest of the Đồng Nai and Song Be rivers. The operation resulted in 416 VC/PAVN, 49 U.S. and 2 Australians killed.

November 1966 – January 1970, Operation Stable Door continues, US Navy defence of allied shipping against VC attacks

5 November 1966 – 8 November 1966, Operation Lien Ket 68, ARVN search and destroy operation, Quảng Tín Province, 109 VC/PAVN KIA, 64 Allied KIA

5 November 1966 – 19 November 1966, Operation Shasta, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines and 1st Battalion, 26th Marines search and destroy operation, Quảng Nam Province

5 November 1967, US troops conquered Loc Ninh South Vietnam.

November 1967 – 29 april 1968, Operation Napoleon, north of the Cua Viet River, Dong Ha area , The 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion was moved to the Cửa Việt Base at the mouth of the Cửa Việt River in April 1967 and was responsible for securing the base and its vicinity. In November 1967 the Cửa Việt area was split off from the Operation Kingfisher tactical area of operations as Operation Napoleon. The Napoleon area of operations formed a rectangle covering the area 3 miles (4.8 km) above and 2 miles (3.2 km) below the Cửa Việt River extending 2 miles (3.2 km) inland from the coast. The main positions within this area were the Cửa Việt Base and Strongpoint A-1 (16.924°N 107.173°E). The 1st AMTRAC Battalion was also given responsibility for the construction of Strongpoint C-4 (16.879°N 107.077°E), part of the Strongpoint Obstacle System 2 km north of the Cửa Việt and supporting the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 2nd Regiment, 1st Division in the construction of Strongpoint A-1 (16.933°N 107.131°E).

On 10 December 1967 the 1st AMTRAC Battalion and the attached Company F, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines were protecting the movement of building materials to Strongpoint C-4, 2 km north of the Cửa Việt River. As two squads from 2/4 Marines patrolled near the village of Ha Loi Tay they were hit by sniper fire, the Marines engaged their attackers killing 8 People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) soldiers for the loss of 1 Marine killed. The Marines searched the surrounding area and engaged another group of 20-25 PAVN some wearing U.S. military equipment. The squads called for assistance and were reinforced by a platoon and later by another 2 platoons and 2 LVTH-6 howitzer equipped AMTRACs. The Marines then formed a night defensive perimeter. At 06:30 on 11 December the Marines moved back into the area of the previous day's engagement and at 08:00 saw a group of more than 40 PAVN in the area. The Marines attempted to pin the PAVN against an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Battalion at Strongpoint A-1 2.5 km to the west, but the PAVN moved around the Marines and began attacking them from the south, hitting the LVTH-6s with 10 Rocket-propelled grenades to little effect and then with mortar fire before being pushed back after a 30-minute fight. The PAVN launched a renewed assault from the north, northeast and south. The Marines fought back supported by artillery and naval gunfire forcing the PAVN to withdraw leaving 54 dead while the Marines suffered 20 wounded. A search of the area uncovered a large PAVN supply dump which the Marines destroyed before returning to Strongpoint C-4.

On 16 December 1967 a PAVN mortar and rocket attack on Cửa Việt Base killed 5 Marines. By the end of 1967 Operation Napoleon had resulted in 87 PAVN dead and 2 captured for the loss of 10 Marine dead.

In January 1968 Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines was attached to the 1st AMTRAC Battalion in place of Company F 2/4 Marines. On the night of 14 January a Marine squad from Company B, 1st AMTRAC Battalion observed a PAVN unit near the village of Tuong Van Tuong southwest of Cửa Việt Base and called in artillery fire, while this fire hit the unit a sweep of the area the following morning failed to find any PAVN dead.

On the morning of 19 January 68 a patrol from Company C, 1/3 Marines engaged elements of the PAVN K400 Main Force Battalion north of Strongpoint A-1, Marine artillery support was soon matched by PAVN artillery fire from across the DMZ and the fight lasted into the afternoon when the Marines withdrew having lost 3 killed, while PAVN losses were 23 killed.

On 20 January PAVN artillery fire targeted U.S. Navy supply boats on the Cửa Việt River forcing the closure of the waterway. The 1st AMTRAC Battalion and the 2nd ARVN Regiment began an operation near the site of the previous day's engagement and soon engaged a PAVN Battalion near the village of My Loc (16.888°N 107.160°E). PAVN artillery fire was used to cover their withdrawal in the afternoon. Marine losses were 13 dead, while PAVN losses were 40 dead and 2 captured.

At 02:00 on 21 January 1968, a 1/3 Marines outpost observed a PAVN unit digging in near the site of the 19 January battle and called in air and artillery strikes. On searching the area in the morning they found 9 PAVN dead. Later that morning a Navy LCM hit a mine on the Cửa Việt River and had to be towed back to Cửa Việt Base.[

On the early morning of 22 January a U.S. Navy gunfire support observer at the A-1 Strongpoint observed a 3-500 man PAVN unit in the 19 January battle area and proceeded to call in air and artillery support. An ARVN patrol of the area suggested that more than 100 PAVN had probably been killed.[1]:115 Later that day a Navy LCU hit another mine on the Cửa Việt River and was towed back to the Cửa Việt Base and the river was again closed for demining. III Marine Amphibious Force commander LG Robert E. Cushman Jr. ordered MG Rathvon M. Tompkins to secure the banks of the Cửa Việt River and assigned Shore Landing Force Bravo's Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines for this mission.

On the morning of 23 January 1968, the planning for Operation Badger Catch/Saline began and at 19:00 that evening the 3/1 Marines began landing at Blue Beach on the northern mouth of the Cửa Việt River. The Badger Catch operational area extended 5 km north of the Cửa Việt and 7 km inland overlapping with a large part of the Napoleon area. The ARVN would be responsible for securing the area south of the river.

On the morning of 24 January 1968, a PAVN command detonated mine sank an LCM on the river and elements of 3/1 Marines were lifted by HMM-165 helicopters to the suspected command site on an island in the river, but were unable to locate any PAVN. Meanwhile, the rest of 3/1 Marines secured the area east of the village of My Loc.

After taking fire from My Loc the previous day, at dawn on the 25th after preparatory artillery fire Company K, 3/1 Marines began an assault on My Loc but was stopped by heavy weapons fire and could only withdraw with tank support, losing 6 dead. At 10:00 PAVN artillery hit 2 LCMs on the Cửa Việt River wounding 5 Americans, U.S. return fire accidentally hit the Company K 3/1 Marines position. From 10:30 until 14:30 air strikes were called in on My Loc and when Company K assaulted the village again they found that the PAVN had withdrawn leaving 20 dead. The PAVN dead were determined to have come from the 803rd Regiment of the 324B Division which had moved its operational area east in an attempt to disrupt Marine supply lines.

On the afternoon of 26 January 1968 as it advanced towards the hamlet of Lam Xuan (16.906°N 107.124°E) 1.5 km northwest of My Loc, Company I 3/1 Marines were ambushed by an entrenched PAVN force. Marine tanks and Ontos were sent to support Company I and after a 5 hour long battle managed to disengage from the ambush site losing 8 Marines while killing 17 PAVN and capturing 2.

At 14:00 on 27 February 1968 operational control of 3/1 Marines was transferred to the 1st AMTRAC Battalion.

On the night of 27 February 1968 radar-guided bomb attacks were made on Lam Xuan and then at 08:00 the village was hit by naval gunfire, however these attacks did little damage to the PAVN bunkers because when Company L 3/1 Marines attacked the village later that morning they were met by heavy fire and 3 tanks were disabled by land mines. Company L pulled back for further air and artillery strikes and in the afternoon Company L and Company K resumed the attack while Company M established a blocking position. At dusk the PAVN began to withdrew under cover of artillery fire from across the DMZ. The following day when the Marines entered Lam Xuan they found 69 dead and capture 2 soldiers, Marine losses were 8 dead.

The Tết truce which was to have come into effect across South Vietnam from 18:00 on 29 January was not observed along the DMZ.

On the early morning of 31 January 68 Company M moved from My Loc to attack PAVN positions south of the hamlet of Mai Xa Thi (16.872°N 107.140°E) while Company K established blocking positions to the north. At 07:00 Company K opened fire on the hamlet and at 07:15 Company M began to advance towards the village. The attack was met by machine gun, mortar and artillery fire and Company L and several LVTs were sent to support Company M but were unable to penetrate the PAVN defenses. At 15:00 the 2 companies were ordered to pull back to allow air strikes against the village and the assault resumed and 16:00 and made slow progress, securing most of the village by 21:30. The next morning the Marines overran the remaining PAVN positions finding 44 dead and capturing 2 soldiers for the loss of 12 Marines. The village was found to have been the command post of the 3rd Battalion, 803rd Regiment.[1]:131–3
On the afternoon of 1 February, suspecting a PAVN counterattack on Lam Xuan, the Company K commander received permission to abandon the hamlet and move 300m east. The move was carried out after dark and at 02:45 on 2 February PAVN mortar and artillery fire began to hit Company K's former positions in Lam Xuan. The PAVN then assaulted Lam Xuan and were met by fire from Company K's new position and by artillery fire. The PAVN attempted to reorient their attack but were pushed back by artillery fire. Two AMTRACs loaded with ammunition attempted to reach Company K but were forced back and then at dawn, reinforced by Company M and 2 tanks, they reached Company K's position and counterattacked against the PAVN fighting from hedgerow to hedgerow to overrun their positions. PAVN losses were 141 dead and 7 captured while Marine losses were 8 dead. The Marines then withdrew from Lam Xuan expecting the PAVN to retrieve their dead and the area was hit by artillery fire throughout the night.

On 24 February 68, the Navy established Task Force Clearwater composed on 20 PBRs plus assorted support ships to keep the Cửa Việt River open. Throughout February PAVN gunners killed 7 sailors and damaged 27 vessels on the river.

On 29 February 68 MG Tompkins merged Operation Napoleon and Saline into one operation under the command of the 3rd Marine Regiment commanded by Col. Milton A. Hull, which moved its headquarters to Cửa Việt Base. The Marines and ARVN claimed over 1000 PAVN killed in area during the month of February.

On 1 March 68 Company M 3/1 Marines supported by 2 LVTE-1s and 2 LVTH-6s conducted a sweep of Mai Xa Thi. The LVTEs shot line charges into the hamlet to clear houses along the river's edge while the LVTHs fired Canister shot into the village. As the LVTs moved into the hamlet they were met by heavy weapons fire from the west. Company I was ordered to support the west flank of Company M and they engaged the PAVN in battle until dusk, killing 36 PAVN and capturing 3. Sweeping the area over the next 2 days the Marines found a further 83 PAVN dead and captured 1 soldier, Marines losses were 27 dead. Prisoner interrogations revealed that the 52nd Regiment of the 320th Division had moved south of the DMZ to replace 803rd Regiment which had moved south into Thừa Thiên Province.

On 4 March 1968 1/3 Marines joined the operation and the following day BLT 2/4 Marines replaced BLT 3/1 Marines.

On 10 March Cửa Việt Base was hit by PAVN artillery, destroying 150 tons of ammunition, damaging numerous buildings and killing 1 American.

On 18 March 68 as 2/4 Marines patrolled an abandoned hamlet 1 km south of Mai Xa Thi they were engaged by heavy weapons and artillery fire. The Marines called in air and artillery support and on entering the hamlet the next day found 72 dead PAVN and captured 4, while the Marines lost 13 dead. Throughout March the Marines killed more than 440 PAVN for the loss of 65 Marines.

On 11 April 1968 PAVN artillery hit the Cửa Việt Base's fuel farm destroying 40,000 gallons of petroleum.

During the last week of April the Navy's Task Force Clearwater received intelligence that the PAVN planned to block the Cửa Việt River again.

5 November 1968, Richard M. Nixon was elected the 37th US President with Spiro Agnew as vice-president. He defeated Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey and third-party candidate George C. Wallace. Winning one of the closest elections in U.S. history, Republican challenger Richard Nixon defeats Vice President Hubert Humphrey. Because of the strong showing of third-party candidate George Wallace, neither Nixon nor Humphrey received more than 50 percent of the popular vote; Nixon beat Humphrey by less than 500,000 votes. Nixon campaigned on a platform designed to reach the “silent majority” of middle class and working class Americans. He promised to “bring us together again,” and many Americans, weary after years of antiwar and civil rights protests, were happy to hear of peace returning to their streets. Foreign policy was also a major factor in the election. Humphrey was saddled with a Democratic foreign policy that led to what appeared to be absolute futility and agony in Vietnam. Nixon promised to find a way to “peace with honor” in Vietnam, though he was never entirely clear about how this was to be accomplished. The American people, desperate to find a way out of the Vietnam quagmire, were apparently ready to give the Republican an opportunity to make good on his claim. During his presidency, Nixon oversaw some dramatic changes in U.S. Cold War foreign policy, most notably his policy of detente with the Soviet Union and his 1972 visit to communist China. His promise to bring peace with honor in Vietnam, however, was more difficult to accomplish. American troops were not withdrawn until 1973, and South Vietnam fell to communist forces in 1975.

5 November 1968, Barry Goldwater (1909-1998), former Republican presidential candidate (1964), was re-elected in Arizona to the US Senate.

5 November 1968, The Paris Peace Talks were called off less than 24 hours before they were to open, after the VC negotiator, Nguyen Thi Binh, said at her press conference that the group had a series of demands before it would negotiate, and the conditions were unacceptable to South Vietnam.

5 November 1970 , U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam reports the lowest weekly death toll in five years. Twenty-four (24) Americans died in combat during the last week of October, the fifth consecutive week that the U.S. death toll was under 50. Although the numbers of American dead were down, 431 were wounded during the reported period, mostly from mines, booby traps, and mortar and sniper fire. The reduced number of U.S. casualties reflected the gradual transfer of the responsibility for the war to the South Vietnamese under President Nixon’s Vietnamization program. While U.S. troops were still conducting combat operations, more and more of them were being withdrawn from Vietnam and the nature of their operations became more defensive.


Today is November 5, 2020
Vietnam War memorial facts
154 Names on the wall were born on 5 November
111 Names on the wall died on 5 November
245 men earned the Medal Of Honor in the Vietnam war and 160 of those men are listed on the wall

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund's In Memory Day program honors those who died as a result of the Vietnam War, but whose deaths do not fit the Department of Defense criteria for inclusion upon the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Every year there is a ceremony to pay tribute to these men and women who sacrificed so much for their country. The ceremony is held on the third Monday in April — In Memory Day.
Highest State Casualties West Virginia had the highest casualty rate in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The state had 711 casualties -- 39.9 deaths per 100,000 people. Oklahoma had the second-highest casualty rate.
The last pilot casualty in the country of Vietnam occurred during the Embassy evacuation in Saigon, William C. Nystal and Michael J. Shea both died on the helicopter on April 30, 1975 approaching the USS Hancock in the China Sea (both are located at 1W, 124).

The last American soldier killed in the Vietnam War was Kelton Rena Turner, an 18-year old Marine. He was killed in action on May 15, 1975, two weeks after the evacuation of Saigon, in what became known as the Mayaguez incident. Others list Gary L. Hall, Joseph N. Hargrove and Danny G. Marshall as the last to die in Vietnam. These three US Marines Corps veterans were mistakenly left behind on Koh Tang Island during the Mayaguez incident. They were last seen together but unfortunately to date, their fate is unknown. They are located on panel 1W, lines 130 - 131.


Other Items of Interest;

Congressional Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day; Master Sergeant John Franklin Baker Jr. and Captain Robert F. Foley

When awarding the medals, President Lyndon B Johnson stated:

The battlefield is the scarred and the lonely landscape of man's greatest failure. But is a place where heroes walk. Today we come here to the East Room of the White House to honor two soldiers, two soldiers who—in the same battle and at the same time—met the surpassing tests of their lives with acts of courage far beyond the call of duty. Captain Foley and Sergeant Baker fought in the same company. Now, together, they join the noblest company of them all. They fought because their Nation believed that only by honoring its commitments, and only by denying aggression its conquest, could the conditions of peace be created in Southeast Asia and the world.


Baker entered the U.S. Army in Moline, Illinois, serving as a private in A Company, 2nd Battalion of the 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Division. In Vietnam, he took part in Operation Attleboro which began in September 1966. On November 5, 1966, Baker and his unit were called to assist another squad who were taking enemy fire. En route, A Company began to take fire and lost their lead soldier. Together with two other soldiers, Baker took over the head of the column and assisted in destroying two enemy positions. They were moving to take two others when a hand grenade knocked Baker off of his feet.
With the two other soldiers wounded, Baker "single handedly" destroyed another bunker before recovering his comrades. Despite taking further fire from enemy bunkers and snipers, he continually fell back to replenish ammunition and take back several wounded. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor along with Captain Robert F. Foley, who also received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the battle.


5 November 1966, John Franklin Baker Jr. (October 30, 1945 – January 20, 2012) was a United States Army Master Sergeant who served in the Vietnam War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Baker was born in Davenport, Iowa, and attended Moline High School from 1963 to 1966. At 5' 1", he was a gymnast before joining the army. He became a "tunnel rat" in Vietnam, a soldier who entered Viet Cong tunnels searching out the enemy and destroying their caches of war material. Baker made the military his career, retiring in 1989. He then began working as a computer analyst at a Veterans Hospital in South Carolina. In addition to serving as the Vice-President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, he served as a member on the Nation's Monuments and Cemeteries Committee.
In 2008, the I-280 Bridge, connecting Davenport, Iowa with Rock Island, Illinois, was renamed the Sergeant John F. Baker Jr. Bridge in his honor.
In 2018, the Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island, Illinois put his name on a street in its new Eagle Point Housing Area.
Baker suffered from heart problems in the last years of his life and began using oxygen in 2010. He died aged 66 on January 20, 2012, after collapsing at his Northeast Richland home.

BAKER, JOHN F., JR.
Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Pfc.), U.S. Army, Company A, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 5 November 1966. Entered service at: Moline, Ill. Born: 30 October 1945, Davenport, Iowa.

Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. En route to assist another unit that was engaged with the enemy, Company A came under intense enemy fire and the lead man was killed instantly. Sgt. Baker immediately moved to the head of the column and together with another soldier knocked out 2 enemy bunkers. When his comrade was mortally wounded, Sgt. Baker, spotting 4 Viet Cong snipers, killed all of them, evacuated the fallen soldier and returned to lead repeated assaults against the enemy positions, killing several more Viet Cong. Moving to attack 2 additional enemy bunkers, he and another soldier drew intense enemy fire and Sgt. Baker was blown from his feet by an enemy grenade. He quickly recovered and single-handedly destroyed 1 bunker before the other soldier was wounded. Seizing his fallen comrade’s machine gun, Sgt. Baker charged through the deadly fusillade to silence the other bunker. He evacuated his comrade, replenished his ammunition and returned to the forefront to brave the enemy fire and continue the fight. When the forward element was ordered to withdraw, he carried 1 wounded man to the rear. As he returned to evacuate another soldier, he was taken under fire by snipers, but raced beyond the friendly troops to attack and kill the snipers. After evacuating the wounded man, he returned to cover the deployment of the unit. His ammunition now exhausted, he dragged 2 more of his fallen comrades to the rear. Sgt. Baker’s selfless heroism, indomitable fighting spirit, and extraordinary gallantry were directly responsible for saving the lives of several of his comrades, and inflicting serious damage on the enemy. His acts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.



5 November 1966, Robert Franklin Foley (born May 30, 1941) is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who served in the Vietnam War. He received the Medal of Honor for leading his unit in an assault on a strong enemy position on November 5, 1966 during Operation Attleboro

Foley is a 1963 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned an infantry officer.[1] He has held numerous command and staff positions throughout 37 years of active service. He has a Master of Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Foley's command positions include Company A, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division in South Vietnam and battalion and brigade command with the 3rd Infantry Division in West Germany. He served as chief of staff for the 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord, California; executive officer to the assistant secretary of the army for manpower and reserve affairs; assistant division commander, 2nd Infantry Division, Commandant of Cadets, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York; deputy commanding general, Second United States Army, Fort Gillem, Georgia; commanding general, United States Army Military District of Washington; and commanding general, Fifth United States Army, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

After his retirement, Foley served as president of Marion Military Institute (MMI) in Marion, Alabama, until his resignation at the end of academic year 2003–2004. During his tenure at MMI, the school saw tremendous growth and recognition in Alabama, and across the United States. On October 1, 2005 Foley became the eighth director of Army Emergency Relief.

FOLEY, ROBERT F.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company A, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Quan Dau Tieng, Republic of Vietnam, 5 November 1966. Entered service at: Newton, Mass. Born: 30 May 1941, Newton, Mass.

Captain Foley's Medal of Honor citation reads:[
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Foley's company was ordered to extricate another company of the battalion. Moving through the dense jungle to aid the besieged unit, Company A encountered a strong enemy force occupying well concealed, defensive positions, and the company's leading element quickly sustained several casualties. Capt. Foley immediately ran forward to the scene of the most intense action to direct the company's efforts. Deploying 1 platoon on the flank, he led the other 2 platoons in an attack on the enemy in the face of intense fire. During this action both radio operators accompanying him were wounded. At grave risk to himself he defied the enemy's murderous fire, and helped the wounded operators to a position where they could receive medical care. As he moved forward again 1 of his machine gun crews was wounded. Seizing the weapon, he charged forward firing the machine gun, shouting orders and rallying his men, thus maintaining the momentum of the attack. Under increasingly heavy enemy fire he ordered his assistant to take cover and, alone, Capt. Foley continued to advance firing the machine gun until the wounded had been evacuated and the attack in this area could be resumed. When movement on the other flank was halted by the enemy's fanatical defense, Capt. Foley moved to personally direct this critical phase of the battle. Leading the renewed effort he was blown off his feet and wounded by an enemy grenade. Despite his painful wounds he refused medical aid and persevered in the forefront of the attack on the enemy redoubt. He led the assault on several enemy gun emplacements and, single-handedly, destroyed 3 such positions. His outstanding personal leadership under intense enemy fire during the fierce battle which lasted for several hours, inspired his men to heroic efforts and was instrumental in the ultimate success of the operation. Capt. Foley's magnificent courage, selfless concern for his men and professional skill reflect the utmost credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.



Vietnam war quotes:

“This war in Vietnam is, I believe, a war for civilization. Certainly it is not a war of our seeking. It is a war thrust upon us and we cannot yield to tyranny.” FRANCIS CARDINAL SPELLMAN, speech, 1966

“Vietnam was a country where America was trying to make people stop being communists by dropping things on them from airplanes.” KURT VONNEGUT, Breakfast of Champions

“I have to keep my mouth shut about Nam though. All of these guys want to believe they were fighting an honorable war, and that their conduct deserves respect. They want the public to treat them like they're heroes--like the WWII vets were. Instead, smart ass, pampered kids call them names and throw dog shit at them.” BUD RUDESILL, Hurricane Ginger

“It has been said that the United States was deceived into entering and expanding the Vietnam War by its own overoptimistic propaganda. The record suggests, however, that the policy-makers stayed in Vietnam not so much because of overly optimistic hopes of winning ... as because of overly pessimistic assessments of the consequences of losing.”JONATHAN SCHELL, The Real War

“For many Americans, the enduring memory of the Vietnam War is of the protests that defined a generation and shattered the illusion of America's purity on the world stage. But for the 3 million men and women who served in Southeast Asia in the 1960s and early 1970s, the memories are more visceral: the fog of combat, the stench of death, the sting of returning to a seemingly ungrateful nation.”
EDITOR, "Agent Orange still poisons many Vietnam War veterans", Daily Hampshire Gazette, April 25, 2017